Varun Gandhi sees Vajpayee's reflection in Rajnath Singh

BJP general secretary, Varun Gandhi said that he backs Rajnath Singh as PM candidate for upcoming general elections.

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LUCKNOW: Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) national general secretary and member of parliament (MP) from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi on Wednesday said that he sees reflection of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in BJP national president Rajnath Singh. He was addressing party's swabhiman rally in Bareilly. Singh was also present on the occasion.

Varun statement has come at a time when a section of BJP has openly demanded to make Gujrat chief minister Narendra Modi party's prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. However, BJP's key ally Janta Dal United (JDU) has opposed Modi. JDU leader and Bihar chief minister had recently said that his party joined NDA because of Vajpayee who remained committed to coalition dharma and had secular ethics. Many feel that by comparing Rajnathi Singh with Vajpayee, Varun has dropped hint that Rajnath is also a prime ministerial candidate - the stand which may find support among BJP's allies as well.

Addressing thousands of BJP workers, Varun showered praises on Rajnath and said that under his leadership BJP will perform well in the elections. In response, Rajnath said that he believes that the youth have to be given the reins of the party. "I wanted him (Varun) to get more responsibility earlier, but he was very young," he addedd. Varun also spoke about how youth can be helped to be self employed. He criticised both the Samajwadi Party government in the state and the Congress led UPA government at the Centre. He said that people in UP can die but cannot compromise with their self respect. Rajnath, on the other hand, said that if BJP is able to win 40-50 seats in UP, nobody could stop it from coming to power at the Centre after elections. He also said that great leaders like Vajpayee and LK Advandi do not take birth twice.

Rajnath had recently appointed Varun as party's general secretary despite opposition from some old party leaders in Uttar Pradesh (UP). He has also been given charge of leading BJP's campaign in UP. In fact, he will be in Lucknow on May 4 to lead party's demonstration against UPA government. The event is part of BJP's nationwide agitation, which is also being seen as launch of campaign for Lok Sabha elections. Varun is also said to be considering to contest next Lok Sabha polls from Sultanpur, a Congress bastion. Varun's father late Sanjay Gandhi had won from Sultanpur in 1980 before he was killed in air crash.

Varun was recently acquitted from charges of delivering hate speeches during his campaign in 2004 Lok Sabha elections when he won the parliamentary seat of Pilibhit, once represented by his mother, Maneka Gandhi. If he moves to Sultanpur, he will be next door to Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by his older cousin Rahul and his aunt, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. BJP's central leadership wants to use Varun to counter Rahul and Sonia. Also, Varun's campaign in 2012 UP assembly elections was successful. While the performance of the BJP was poor in the state, all 14 candidates for whom Varun campaigned were elected. Party believes that BJP needs a young leader like Varun for success in UP.